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If you've read anything I've ever posted, you know that I have four children who seem to believe they are entitled to several meals daily, and I am cheap. A favorite breakfast in my house is waffles. Think two per child, per day. Plus sometimes I eat one--or two. So figure that we eat about 50 waffles per week.
I've tried store brands, national brands purchased on sale with coupons, and bulk-size boxes. However, the lowest price I can find is about $1 for 10 waffles, so I'm paying at least $5 per week--often quite a bit more. And it makes me nuts.
I started researching waffle makers, but I quickly determined that I wanted a regular waffle maker, not a Belgian waffle iron. As cute as it is, I also did not want this Texas-shaped waffle maker.
I settled on the Cuisinart WMR-CA Round Classic Waffle Maker, currently priced at $27 at Amazon.
It has ready indicator lights, a five-setting control so that you can meet waffle browning preferences for picky children, an accurate thermostat, an easy-to-clean nonstick surface that doesn't flake off, an easy-to-clean stainless steel exterior, a small footprint, a cool touch exterior, so your children won't burn themselves when they inevitably stick their hands on the thing. And it has a three-year warranty.
However, it doesn't have removable plates you can pop in the dishwasher, an audible ready indicator chime, and someone who will actually stand in your kitchen and make the waffles according to the directions. Most of the negative reviews at Amazon seem to be written by people who didn't bother to read the instruction manual or think the laws of physics work differently in their kitchens, so instructions don't apply to them. You know, people like my husband, who is not allowed to use the waffle maker.
Overall, this machine is standing up to the heavy use we expect from it. I mix up batter and make about 100 waffles, the majority of which are frozen and toasted for breakfast over the next two weeks. I'd estimate my batter costs at less than $3 a batch, so I'm saving a pretty penny. And that's even more delicious than fresh waffles.
Try to remember, it does more than just make waffles.
(Credit: Cooking.com)Some kitchen appliances are hard to emulate. Just try making a waffle without a waffle iron. It's not very easy to do. You may end up with something that goes great with bacon and eggs, but that doesn't mean you got yourself a waffle. In fact, I'm not even quite sure how one would go about trying to make a waffle without a waffle maker. Most likely, one would just settle for pancakes. Delicious maybe, but waffles they are not.
Valuable counter space need not be sacrificed to have a waffle maker. The Kalorik Stainless Steel Nonstick Grill/Sandwich/Waffle Maker combines all the popular aspects of countertop cooking into one convenient model. Not only will you be able to make waffles, but also many other items as well. The multiple use device features not only a sandwich maker, but also a standard indoor grill allowing for the capability to cook up almost anything.
With three interchangeable nonstick plates, this Kalorik grill has the versatility needed for today's crowded countertops. Everybody loves breakfast, and you can't really go wrong with waffles. If you want waffles, you are going to need a waffle iron, so you might as well give it something else to do for those other meals. Sure, one could eat breakfast all day, but it is probably a good idea to get some other nutrients too.
This device is billed as a Waffle Dogger/Crepe On A Stick Maker, but I think that might be a little shortsighted. All food tastes better when it's served on a stick; it's a well-known fact.
Waffle Dogger/Crepe On A Stick Maker
(Credit: Cecilware)Perhaps it is people like me and my unholy attraction with food on a stick that caused the manufacturer to brand this as a waffle maker in the first place. Anything else might simply be "not recommended by the manufacturer." But I still would try. Taking clues from the Minnesota State Fair, one of the first things I would try would be spaghetti-on-a-stick. After that, who knows? The bacon-wrapped turkey tenderloin on a stick looks good. It looks real good, in fact.
Cecilware is not completely in the dark as to the possibilities this machine represents. The instruction manual does include a crepe recipe along with several suggestions for filling them. Suggestions for "crepitos" include chocolate, sausage, or ham and cheese. Obviously the makers at Cecilware do appreciate food on a stick, even if the model number sounds like it may be more useful as a lubricant for the Tilt-a-Whirl.
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